A big shout out, and thank you to our blog hosts:
Fae @ Far Away Series
Stephen T. McCarthy presents Battle of the Bands
This is how we play:
We feature two different recordings of the same song. Listen to both, and then vote for the song version you like the best. Feel free to leave me a comment, along with your vote.
Our battles take place twice a month ~ on the 1st and 15th. The results come six days later ~ on the 7th and 21st. That's when I return, add all of the votes, including mine, and announce the winner. Feel free to return and see if your choice won!
If you would like to listen, and vote in other battles, please see the participant list in the right hand margin. Thank you!
Want to join us?
If you would like to join this bi-monthly blog-event, visit the blog host, Stephen T. McCarthy. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.
Featured song: "The Game of Thrones" and background information:
The music for the fantasy TV series Game of Thrones by the U.S. cable channel HBO is composed by Ramin Djawadi and published by Varèse Sarabande. The soundtrack is instrumental and features one major theme, the Main Title, which accompanies the series' title sequence. The instrumental music by Ramin Djawadi was performed by the Czech Film Orchestra and Choir and recorded at the Rudolfinum concert hall in Prague. The 6th season begins in April.
You can listen to the original here: Game of Thrones original This version is not in today's battle.
Indie rock band The National, with their vocalist Matt Berningera recorded the vocal of "The Rains of Castamere" for Ramin Djawadi's original album. Today we'll hear their version of the main song, "The Game of Thrones".
Today's Battle Contenders:
1- The National is an American indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. Currently based in Brooklyn, the band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Sharon Van Etten on violin.
2- Ben & Dan Productions- Western Theme. Video by Benedikt Mendzigal and Daniel Brauner. Produced by BenDan Productions. Two guys doing it all.
Who will you vote for - (1) The National Indie band or (2) Ben&Dan Productions? Let's hear them now... See you on the 21st.
I've never seen the show Game of Thrones--yeah I know. But I have heard this song somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe metal version is excellent and essentially similar to what I've heard before.
The western version is pretty cool--shades spaghetti westerns!
This actually turns out to be a tough decision for me as I like both of them for different reasons--and they are very different.
Ultimately though I guess I'll have to cast my vote for The National. Besides they have the electric violin and my votes are usually weighed in favor of that.
This is a fine battle for sure!
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Thank you, Lee. Great comment.
DeleteNational for you.
No contest! The National. That music just lends itself well to rock music. I still say if the great composers were alive today, their music would all be rock. You have only to look at Trans Siberian Orchestra to see that happening.
ReplyDeleteAlex< I'll trust you to know. Thank you for voting.
DeleteSecond vote for National.
Hi, dear Dixie!
ReplyDeleteThis is a powerful theme and while I enjoyed both tracks I definitely favor version #1 by The National. The guitars and violin playing are superb and the prog rock arrangement pleases my ears more than the western styled. I cast my vote for The National band!
Thank you, dear friend Dixie!
Thank you, Shady, for voting.
DeleteNational again!
Interesting battle, Dixie! I've never watched Game of Thrones, but enjoyed all versions of the theme you presented. I'm a rocker from way back and naturally gravitated to The Natural's rendition. ☺ They get my vote. The Western take was pretty cool, though.
ReplyDeleteOops! I meant The National's rendition.
DeleteLooks like National is taking over!
DeleteThank you, Debbie. Hope you're feeling better now, (smile).
No problem!
DeleteWow, this is a hard battle for me. I LOVE both versions. Fortunately, I'm not partial to the original because I've never watched one episode of Game of Thrones. But the music is great. If I have to choose, I'm going to go with the National. I loved the second version too, but it sounded too much like any other western song I've heard. So that's the only reason I could find to shy away from choosing that one. But BOTH were outstanding and I LOVED them both.
ReplyDelete>>..."But BOTH were outstanding and I LOVED them both."
DeleteJeffrey, your comment made me happy. Got you for National.
Maybe it's just because we're both Game of Thrones fans, but the first one sounded much more true to the series - gritty, fast paced. The second one, while really unique and well done, sounds like something different entirely. Two votes for The National.
ReplyDeleteB&B... I'm glad you stopped by and voted.
DeleteTwo for National.
I love Game of Thrones, though I'm behind since I don't have HBO or Netflix. I usually catch up when DirectTV gives free HBO for the weekend AND they run the entire previous season. However, none of that really matters since this is all about the Theme Song (which is fantastic, btw).
ReplyDeleteDid you watch the TV show Firefly? If not, it was a futuristic show with elements of westerns. Spaceships and cowboys. I know on its face it seems like they wouldn't go well together, but damn!, that was a great show. If it didn't already have rockin' theme song (it does/did), the second one would've worked well.
However, as The Game of Thrones lover that I am, I must go with the first one. As B&B said, it's more true to the series, so it's what these ears love listening to:)
I loved 'Firefly' the series and the movie!! Haven't ever seen Game of Thrones.
DeleteThank you Robin. Looks like National has run away with the battle - so far!
I've watched about half an episode of G.O.T., but didn't want to continue. Frankly, although I really enjoy fantasy as a genre, I put the book down after about 1/3 of the way into the first volume. There are some disturbing things in the story, and it bugged me. PLUS, I dislike the unending storyline: it is simply a revolving soap opera for nerds.
ReplyDeleteAs for the music, I liked them both. I enjoy metal and The National does an excellent job. But I really liked the western theme of the second one. It was inventive, and I like westerns. So I'll vote for Benjamin and Daniel.
Sheboyganboy VI,
DeleteI haven't been interested to read or watch Game of Thrones. I don't like soap operas at all. However I liked the movie, "Revenge of the Nerds."
Glad you could have a listen and vote. In fact, you just saved me from what looks to be a shutout! Yea!
I thought the western was really funny.
I'm giving my vote to the National: Loved their version and in particular, the violin. The Western version was cool but National just brought it home for me.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Game of Thrones but the music sure is good...
Michele at Angels Bark
Hi Michele. I like the music too. I'll put you down for National. Thank you.
DeleteDixie, fabulous covers! Gee, this is a tough choice because I like both of them a lot. However, I think today (tomorrow my opinion could be different) the Western cover stirs me the most and am giving my vote to Ben and Dan Productions Well played, my friend!
ReplyDeleteToo cool, and I now have a second vote for the Western version. Wasn't that funny?
DeleteWhile I really enjoyed the twangy guitar of Ben & Dan, give my vote to The National - I *almost* always prefer hard rock/metal stuff to anything else. Their driving beat and melodic violin kept it moody like I like it and heavy, too. :) Great battle, Dixie!
ReplyDeleteKim (ReInVintaged)
Thank you, Kim! A vote for National.
DeleteI've never watched Game of Thrones, but I found this music intriguing. Please give my vote to the Nationals.
ReplyDeleteOkay, Mary, another vote for National.
DeleteI liked both versions, but the Western one grabbed my vote
ReplyDeleteCool- Western nabs a vote! Thanks, Mike.
DeleteNational Indie Band gets my vote. I've got a bit of an aversion to cowboys that's tied to my ex...I wish it was a joke, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteGreat pic, Dixie! I really did love the NIB version.
Cherdo - I understand, and will put you down for NIB.
DeleteThis is a great music TV piece right up there with many classic ones. I give my vote to the Western theme. The guy clearly loves Ennio Morricone
ReplyDelete"Ennio Morricone" I thought that too!
DeleteA vote for the Western version. Thanks for voting today.
DIXIE POLKA ~
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm so late. I didn't get ANY of my BOTB votes placed until today. I don't like when BOTB begins on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday as those are the days I have to work 12.5 hours each and I have NO TIME to do anything but work, shower and sleep.
Although I've often heard of it, I've never seen a single episode of 'GAME OF THRONES'. The perception I have (which may be entirely wrong) is that it includes a lot of martial arts scenes. Frankly, I reached my saturation point for martial arts about 20-flippin'-years ago and I'm embarrassed for my countrymen that they apparently still eat that slop up like candy. Arrrrgggghhhhhh!...
However, the music here is excellent and I genuinely enjoyed BOTH recordings. I thought, going in without hearing a note yet, that I would be voting for the Western version as I love that classic Ennio Morricone Western sound. And it was indeed wonderful.
But that version by NATIONAL really did it. I don't normally like Heavy Metal much at all, but this was almost symphonic metal, a la Trans-Siberian Orchestra (whom I do like). The NATIONAL rendering of this song was just so majestic sounding that I had to throw my vote to them.
Sorry to only make the landslide worse but I know you'd want my honest vote at all times.
This was really an A-list BOTB installment, the lopsided score notwithstanding. You continue to create some of my favorite BOTB contests.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
~D-Febs DogG... Thanks for the comment. I completely agree with 99% of what you stated.
DeleteNational did a heck of a job!
These were both great. I love the eBow work on the first one and the violinist plays as good as she looks. But Ben and Dan made it sound like the soundtrack from a Clint Eastwood movie. They take home the prize today.
ReplyDeleteJohn, Thaaks for voting. I don't think the violinist pays with them regularly.
DeleteToo cool - Ben & Dan get another vote!
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back here (I listened to both versions earlier in the week on my phone, but the phone normally doesn't let me comment, so I've stopped trying), it's just been one of those weeks.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I have read all of the 'GOT' book and enjoyed them well enough, the TV series, not so much (I only saw the first two seasons), but it does have a pretty good theme song. When I first saw the title to your BATTLE, I wasn't too excited, but upon giving a listen; this is a great BATTLE with two exceptional covers. I really did like them both.
My vote goes to the second one, the 'western cover'. I love that Morricone-like sound with the galloping beat.
Excellent BATTLE!
Thank you, Fae! I admit, when I first heard Western, I laughed. But in the end I had to showcase it's uniqueness.
DeleteThank you for giving a vote to them.
Oh, wow... This is brilliant! I'm going with the Metal version; as much as I enjoyed the Western one (it really did sound like a Clint Eastwood soundtrack!), National was the one I'd listen to most often.
ReplyDeleteReally excellent picks, Dixie! Thanks :)
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter
Guilie, I got your vote a little late but will count, due to my internet issues here, and having to post earlier than usual.
DeleteNational for you.